Israel blocks construction of key Gaza base created by Trump peace board

The blocked project is a temporary military outpost in Gaza. The Board of Peace authorized Louisiana-based Arkel International to build it in early August. The site would support an international stabilization force, which is intended to provide security before reconstruction begins. Its delay matters because the Board of Peace considers the outpost the starting point for its wider Gaza program.

The planned site is described as a “mission support site temporary outpost.” It would cover about 100 meters by 100 meters and stand on land once used by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The base would host short, rotating deployments of 150 well-armed international troops. Contractors and trucks have not been allowed to enter and begin construction.

Two months after the contract was issued, Israel had still not permitted the work to proceed. A person familiar with the matter said the Board of Peace believes approval may come after Israel’s 27 October elections. Until then, the reconstruction program remains stalled.

The Board of Peace is an international organization authorized in 2025 by the United Nations and chaired by US president Donald Trump. It was formed after an October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza. Trump presents it as central to his claim that the war was resolved. Its proposed role is to organize an international stabilization force and begin rebuilding Gaza.

The board’s plan starts with security. It issued Arkel International’s contract for a temporary military outpost that would host 150 rotating troops. The force would provide the protection needed for construction teams, deliveries, utilities, and other early work. The board also unveiled a six-month plan costing $2.45bn, followed by an estimated ten-year reconstruction cost of $71bn.

The organization has drawn controversy and limited support from many western democracies, although 28 countries joined as founding members. Its plans include a futuristic waterfront vision for Gaza. In practice, its first construction project has not begun because Israel has not opened the border to the contractor.

The first outpost is planned as a compact fortified position, measuring about 100 meters by 100 meters. It is not designed to house the entire international stabilization force. Instead, it would serve as a temporary support site for troops operating in Gaza. Its scale reflects an initial security foothold rather than a completed military base or reconstruction center.

The site would host short, rotating deployments of 150 well-armed international troops. Those personnel would come from a larger force of 500 troops already sent from Morocco and Kosovo. The article does not give a full breakdown of how many troops came from each country. It does make clear that 150 would be present at the outpost at a time.

This arrangement is important because the Board of Peace sees the outpost as the force’s entry point into Gaza. Without it, the stabilization force cannot properly operate, according to the source. Without the force, construction teams, equipment deliveries, utilities, and basic support facilities cannot begin.

The outpost is meant to provide the security foundation for Gaza’s proposed reconstruction program. The Board of Peace’s source says rebuilding cannot start without an international stabilization force. Security is presented as a practical requirement, not a later addition, because workers and equipment need protection before large projects can proceed.

The mechanism is straightforward. If the force cannot enter, contractors cannot safely move in with construction equipment. Deliveries cannot begin, utilities cannot be installed, and basic life-support facilities cannot be established. The source says the absence of the outpost cuts the Board of Peace “off at the legs,” stopping the program before its first operational stage.

The board has announced a six-month plan costing $2.45bn and a ten-year reconstruction estimate of $71bn. Yet its first contract remains blocked. The project could move forward after Israel’s 27 October elections, according to the person familiar with the matter, but the article gives no guarantee that approval will follow.

The immediate reason is physical access. The person with direct knowledge told the Guardian that Israel “won’t open the border,” preventing contractors and trucks from crossing into Gaza. Without those crossings, Arkel International cannot bring in workers, vehicles, construction equipment, or materials for the outpost.

That makes Israel’s decision a practical gatekeeping point for the project. Even if the Board of Peace has issued a contract and troops are ready, the work cannot start unless the people and supplies needed to build the site can enter. The article does not explain the legal arrangements governing the border or identify every authority involved in access decisions.

Two months after the contract was issued, Israel had still not allowed construction to begin. The Israeli Defense Forces and government declined to comment. The Board of Peace reportedly expects the project may proceed after Israel’s elections on 27 October, but the article does not confirm that Israel will change its policy.

An international force may be needed because rebuilding requires people and equipment to work in an active conflict environment. Construction crews need protection, and deliveries need secure routes. Utilities and basic support facilities also require workers to enter, remain, and operate equipment. Without security, even early-stage work can be delayed or made impossible.

The Gaza plan illustrates this dependency. The Board of Peace wants an international stabilization force to use a temporary outpost as its base. The force would provide a secure presence for construction teams and deliveries. The source specifically says that without it, there would be no security, no construction-equipment deliveries, and no way to begin utilities or basic life-support facilities.

The article reports that Israel has blocked the outpost’s construction, so the force cannot properly deploy. That leaves the wider reconstruction plan stalled at its starting point. The board expects the project may proceed after Israel’s 27 October elections, but the article does not say whether conditions on the ground will then be safe or stable.

Generally, an international stabilization force is a multinational military or security deployment designed to reduce violence and protect people, aid, and rebuilding. It operates under an agreed international framework rather than as the permanent army of one country. The article uses the term for the force intended to support the Board of Peace’s Gaza program.

In this case, the force would deploy 500 troops from Morocco and Kosovo, with 150 stationed at a time in a temporary outpost. Its practical job would be to provide security for contractors, deliveries, utilities, and basic facilities. The article does not set out the force’s legal mandate, command structure, or authority over Gaza’s administration.

That differs from a country’s own military occupying or governing territory. An occupation or national military administration is controlled by one state and may exercise direct authority. A stabilization force is normally limited to an agreed security role and does not automatically replace local governance. The article provides no further details about how this distinction would work in Gaza.